Threshold of Beauty

Threshold of Beauty is an ongoing interdisciplinary project developed by composer Charles Peck. This project features a diverse collection of works and collaborations that are unified by their focus on music and the sciences. Partners thus far have included The Bakken Museum (Minneapolis, MN), The Works Museum (Bloomington, MN), Crossroads Elementary School (St. Paul, MN), and the University of Cincinnati Physics Department (Cincinnati, OH). Special thanks to the McKnight Foundation and the American Composer’s Forum for their generous support of this project. Feel free to peruse the blog posts and work samples below to learn more!

Threshold of Beauty is an interdisciplinary project I designed that fuses music with sciences. As part of this project, I have collaborated with a number of organizations to bring new music to students and adults alike. My Threshold of Beauty project kicked off officially with a two-week residency at Crossroads Elementary in St. Paul, Minnesota. […]

Threshold of Beauty is an interdisciplinary project I designed that fuses music with sciences. As part of this project, I have collaborated with a number of organizations to bring new music to students and adults alike. After a very busy first day of my residency, spent introducing my group of students to the creative process […]

Threshold of Beauty is an interdisciplinary project I designed that fuses music with the sciences. As part of this project, I have collaborated with a number of organizations to bring new music to students and adults alike. In previous posts about my Threshold of Beauty project, I spoke about guiding a classroom of students through […]

Ferrous is a piece that showcases the unique properties of ferrofluid. This liquid contains microscopic magnetic particles, which will react to any external magnetic field. By introducing a magnet, we can see the fluid take the shape of the magnetic field lines emanating from that magnet. In this piece, all of the magnets are manipulated below the ferrofluid, but their shape and movement remains clear as the liquid mimics them. The score seeks to give each of these different magnets a character of its own. All of the audio is derived from two sources — liquid and metal.

Ferrous (fixed-format audio and video) – 7'

Ferrous is a piece that showcases the unique properties of ferrofluid. This liquid contains microscopic magnetic particles, which will react to any external magnetic field. By introducing a magnet, we can see the fluid take the shape of the magnetic field lines emanating from that magnet. In this piece, all of the magnets are manipulated below the ferrofluid, but their shape and movement remains clear as the liquid mimics them. The score seeks to give each of these different magnets a character of its own. All of the audio is derived from two sources — liquid and metal.

Field Lines (interactive instrument) - 3'

This instrument contains 3 separate cases of magnetic material, including magnetic sand, a compass array, and zinc-plated iron (from left to right). Audiences are able to manipulate these materials with a magnet in the space below each case while sensors pick up their movement. The sensors send that information to an Arduino board, which then creates spontaneous music. Thus providing the audience a chance to be part student, as they learn about the magnetic field, and part composer, as they craft the music.

Field Lines (interactive instrument) - 3'

This instrument contains 3 separate cases of magnetic material, including magnetic sand, a compass array, and zinc-plated iron (from left to right). Audiences are able to manipulate these materials with a magnet in the space below each case while sensors pick up their movement. The sensors send that information to an Arduino board, which then creates spontaneous music. Thus providing the audience a chance to be part student, as they learn about the magnetic field, and part composer, as they craft the music.

Sharpy (electronic instrument) – 3'

Sharpy is an electronic instrument that was designed to demonstrate the connection between musical and physical gestures. The instrument utilizes three infrared distance sensors to control the sound, which is produced digitally with an Arduino board and GinSing shield. So, as the users interact with these sensors, there is a clear auditory connection to their physical actions. Performer: Charles Peck

Sharpy (electronic instrument) – 3'

Sharpy is an electronic instrument that was designed to demonstrate the connection between musical and physical gestures. The instrument utilizes three infrared distance sensors to control the sound, which is produced digitally with an Arduino board and GinSing shield. So, as the users interact with these sensors, there is a clear auditory connection to their physical actions. Performer: Charles Peck

Color Density (fixed-format audio and video) – 3'

Color Density is a piece based on a science experiment. With only a thin layer of milk, a few drops of food coloring, and one drop of dish soap, an ever-evolving palette of colors can be realized. As this unfolds, the piece takes on a new dimension when the shadow of dusk enters and slowly overtakes the experiment. The audio is a reaction to this array of motion and color in the visuals and is generated from a short, half-second audio clip of a water droplet.

Color Density (fixed-format audio and video) – 3'

Color Density is a piece based on a science experiment. With only a thin layer of milk, a few drops of food coloring, and one drop of dish soap, an ever-evolving palette of colors can be realized. As this unfolds, the piece takes on a new dimension when the shadow of dusk enters and slowly overtakes the experiment. The audio is a reaction to this array of motion and color in the visuals and is generated from a short, half-second audio clip of a water droplet.